1b.Approach (from AD-416):
Exotic invasive weeds cause about $35 billion annually in economic losses in addition to environmental impacts ranging from displacement of species of conservation concern to altered ecosystem functions. Biologically-based control methods can provide cost-effective, sustainable means of limiting the adverse impacts of invasive plants over extensive rangeland and natural areas, but improvements in methodology are warranted. We propose that by better understanding invasive plant taxonomy, evolutionary relationships, origins, population structure and reproductive biology, we can identify more effective and lower risk insect and pathogen biological weed control agents. Additionally, understanding ecological interactions between insect and pathogen agents will let us employ their synergistic action. Biological control of weeds is a step towards returning to desired landscapes, with significantly reduced densities of noxious weeds and increased cover of native or other desired species. Establishing desired species cover in previously infested areas may require the application of successful restoration programs. We will examine the ecological and evolutionary processes that maintain desired communities, and then use this knowledge to improve rates of success in restoration. Additionally, successful biological control can leave a legacy of increased inoculum of soilborne pathogens, and we will investigate if this inhibits restoration efforts. This more holistic view of invasive weed management, starting with a better understanding of the basic biology of the invasion, including ecological and evolutionary studies of the biological control and restoration processes, will enhance our ability to replace invaded areas with ecologically sound and economically useful landscapes.

3.Progress Report:
Russian olive removal/restoration: ARS researchers from Sidney and Miles City, MT continue to monitor vegetation changes after invasive Russian olive removal and the success of restoration plantings. Funding from the Bureau of Land Management allowed the purchase of soil moisture monitors that give information on how plant water availability in the plots changes with the rise and fall of the Yellowstone river. Researchers also installed plots in SD, MT, WA, and OR to determine how the location of restoration seed production farms influences seed performance. Emergence data has been collected and analyzed and shows that two commonly used restoration species exhibit significant performance differences depending on where they are produced. The study at Theodore Roosevelt National Park is nearing completion: biomass from the plants has been collected in 2012 and will be collected in 2013 to determine if a single generation of agronomic growing conditions affects seed performance compared to wild-collected seeds of restoration species.

Weevil and fungus attack weed together: In a field experiment on insect/pathogen interactions involving the invasive weed Lepidium draba and host-specific root-galling weevil Ceutorhynchus assimilis, treatments in which the fungus Rhizoctonia solani was placed in soils were all positive for root infection by the pathogen. In soils without the fungus, no such infections were detected. These results confirm under controlled conditions an insect/pathogen interaction shown to occur in the field. The association of the weevil with soilborne pathogens suggests initial releases would be most effective for biocontrol at sites with high amounts of soilborne pathogens.

Invasive Russian olive: Molecular markers (microsatellites) for Russian olive have been developed by ARS Sidney, MT, and these are being used to determine the distribution of different genotypes of this plant invasion that spans from the west coast to the Midwest states. The information will help make sure that biological control agents being developed for this invasive are effective on the full range of genetic diversity found in the invasion.

4.Accomplishments
1.
Simultaneous seeding of an annual cover crop in pipeline revegetation is a recommended practice. ARS researchers in Sidney, MT conducted several experiments to test whether the inclusion of an annual grass cover crop with a perennial grass seeding affected perennial grass performance. Researchers found that the annual grass cover crop did not inhibit perennial grass establishment and may have had a slightly helpful effect on the perennials. This research will be used by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service scientists who are responsible for creating restoration seed mixes and supports the use of annuals in pipeline revegetation throughout the rapidly developing Bakken oil region.

2.
Molecular identification of invasive aquatic plant species. Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive aquatic plant that was first established in Montana in 2007, has now spread via boats to four major rivers and Montana’s largest lake. The plant forms dense beds on waterways and negatively impacts desirable plants, waterfowl, fish and water quality. There is a non-damaging native watermilfoil in Montana which is hard to distinguish from the invasive species, and the two species are suspected to hybridize, complicating management efforts. ARS researchers in Sidney, MT, developed molecular tools to identify native, invasive, and hybrid watermilfoils across the region. ARS found that 10 out of 16 locations now contain the invasive watermilfoil and two of those locations contain the hybrid. This information will be used to prioritize control efforts of this new aquatic weed.